Newbie with a question
02-01-2009, 09:39 PM
#31
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Douglas County, GA
Posts: 1,722
Hi. I'm sending you some good advice here: when you go to the store (in April?) get some Invisigrip to stick onto the bottoms of all your cutting rulers and templates. The @$%&)*(&^% acrylic and/or metal rulers and templates slip all the time if you do not have some non-slip stuff stuck onto their bottoms; even the ones that are "designed not to slip" DO slip. When you are cutting anything and especially a narrow strip of fabric, it is infuriating when the ruler slips. You can almost secure a wide ruler or template with your other hand and arm, but a narrow ruler is impossible to control properly without "gripper" on the bottom. I used to have the little vinyl circles stuck onto the bottoms of my rulers and templates but they are too fat and allow the rotary cutter to get underneath the ruler, causing more crooked cutting! So, I pulled off all the vinyl bumps and replaced them with Invisigrip. It's not inexpensive, so if you can use coupons or get it on sale would be good.
02-02-2009, 06:05 AM
#32
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Front row
Posts: 14,646
Cut the binding strip you have into about 16 inch lengths, sew two lengths together to get a 3 3/4 inch wide strip. Use another fabric cut 3 3/4 inch wide and alternate the strips, sewing them into the length you need for the binding. You'll have a nice looking binding and no one will ever know you didn't plan it that way.
The way I measure binding width is double how wide I want the binding to be on the quilt and add 1/4 inch. I press it half longways and sew the raw ends to the quilt, turn and hand sew the folded end to the other side. Happy quilting. :-)
The way I measure binding width is double how wide I want the binding to be on the quilt and add 1/4 inch. I press it half longways and sew the raw ends to the quilt, turn and hand sew the folded end to the other side. Happy quilting. :-)
02-02-2009, 09:58 AM
#33
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Originally from NY, now retired in Argentina. Miss the USA!!! :-(
Posts: 1,577
Kris:
Ok still no worries as long as you have enough length to do around the whole quilt then this measurement should work. I always cut my QUILT BINDING (is this the right B word??? :wink:) at 2 1/2 inches and I do what is called a double fold or french binding. That is where once you piece the lengths together you fold the binding in half and sew that to the quilt. YouTube has some great videos on how to make a double fold binding and how to attach a binding to a quilt. I am dyslexic and always have a problem joining the double fold binding together to finish off the quilt. The videos helped alot.
Don't stress, have fun! :D
Ok still no worries as long as you have enough length to do around the whole quilt then this measurement should work. I always cut my QUILT BINDING (is this the right B word??? :wink:) at 2 1/2 inches and I do what is called a double fold or french binding. That is where once you piece the lengths together you fold the binding in half and sew that to the quilt. YouTube has some great videos on how to make a double fold binding and how to attach a binding to a quilt. I am dyslexic and always have a problem joining the double fold binding together to finish off the quilt. The videos helped alot.
Don't stress, have fun! :D
02-02-2009, 11:32 AM
#34
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: 100 miles South of Orlando, FL
Posts: 247
Welcome from Florida.
You've come to the right place to ask questions, these quilters are great!
Put your border on then batting and backing.
Have fun with it. Learning is an adventure. :D
simple quilter :) :D
You've come to the right place to ask questions, these quilters are great!
Put your border on then batting and backing.
Have fun with it. Learning is an adventure. :D
simple quilter :) :D
02-02-2009, 05:47 PM
#35
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Red Bluff, CA
Posts: 143
Hi Dingle and welcome.
I don't know if anyone has suggested this but I have done it a few times and it always turns out great. Make a pieced binding with the fabric you have left. I had 12x2.5 strips left over and sewed these strips together on the diagonal, pressed the seams to one side, folded it in half lengthwise, sewed it to the front of my quilt then turned it to the back and hand stitched it down. Turned out wonderful and I didn't have to go out and buy more fabric. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
Grammie2twins
I don't know if anyone has suggested this but I have done it a few times and it always turns out great. Make a pieced binding with the fabric you have left. I had 12x2.5 strips left over and sewed these strips together on the diagonal, pressed the seams to one side, folded it in half lengthwise, sewed it to the front of my quilt then turned it to the back and hand stitched it down. Turned out wonderful and I didn't have to go out and buy more fabric. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
Grammie2twins
02-02-2009, 05:59 PM
#36
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: So. Nevada
Posts: 814
Well I guess I better make me a list of things I need next time I go to town. This is what I already have. Cutting mat, rotary cutter, different sizes of quilting pins, 3 rulers, replacement needles for my machine, lots of neutral thread, extra clear bobbins, seam ripper and a good pair of scissors. What else am I needing? Remember I am new at this so I can't just jump into a quilt that takes alot of piecing. I think I might get frustrated with that and just quit. I need to stay simple until I really get the hang of this.
Also, what works best when putting the quilt all together? Pins, basting gun, basting pins or???
Thanks all of you for your help. I think I may really enjoy doing this!
Kris
Also, what works best when putting the quilt all together? Pins, basting gun, basting pins or???
Thanks all of you for your help. I think I may really enjoy doing this!
Kris
02-02-2009, 06:29 PM
#37
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Central FL
Posts: 4,829
One suggestion - check your top for squareness before putting on the border. Measure at the top, middle, and bottom, then adjust so they are the same.
Check the top in a couple places also - it will save a lot of adjusting later on.
Check the top in a couple places also - it will save a lot of adjusting later on.
02-02-2009, 07:20 PM
#38
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Douglas County, GA
Posts: 1,722
Re: What else do you need?? Extra rotary blades for one thing. I have a suggestion for you. Look through catalogs ... ones you get in the mail or go on-line to all the places that sell quilting notions. You might get ideas of your needs from seeing what is available. There should be a detailed description of the purpose of each item. I must confess that I have bought a lot of things over the years that I have yet to use and a few things that I've tried but don't like.
Your other question about how to secure your quilt sandwich ... the answer somewhat depends on what sort of area you have available in which to lay out the layers and put them together. A lot of people put their layers on the floor and work on their hands and knees -- in that case, I think kneepads would be helpful. I have a 1/2-inch thick sheet of plywood quite high up on sawhorses so I don't have to bend over far. I'm able to smooth and pull the 3 layers taut, clip them to the plywood and then pin them together with quilter's safety pins. It works exactly right for me, but there's a lot of different ways to go.
Your other question about how to secure your quilt sandwich ... the answer somewhat depends on what sort of area you have available in which to lay out the layers and put them together. A lot of people put their layers on the floor and work on their hands and knees -- in that case, I think kneepads would be helpful. I have a 1/2-inch thick sheet of plywood quite high up on sawhorses so I don't have to bend over far. I'm able to smooth and pull the 3 layers taut, clip them to the plywood and then pin them together with quilter's safety pins. It works exactly right for me, but there's a lot of different ways to go.
02-03-2009, 04:05 AM
#39
Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: New Port Richey, FL
Posts: 43
Hi and welcome,
I know exactly how you are feeling. I'm newer to quilting and still making mistakes. Also rural and on my own. Everyone here has great ideas. You will be so happy you found us. Your border goes on next. There is a lady in the quilt world named Jean Brown that tells us to put the binding on before you sandwich the quilt with batting and backing. It sounds wrong, but makes sense. The edges of the quilt top will not frey with the binding attached. Then, it is an easy finish when your done with the quilting process. I have not done that yet, but will on my next quilt. As for the oops on the binding size. If you are using 1/4 inch seems, it should have worked. If not, then don't let it get the best of you. The borders are for framing the quilt and no one is going to get a tape measure and double check your work. Bottom line is that each quilt made is a reflection of the person who made it. Not one of them are perfect so go easy on yourself. You said that all of your seems matched up, and I think that is a larger hurdle than the borders. Lay the quilt out on the bed and look at it from the doorway. Can you tell that the border is not exactly 2". It doesn't matter that is is not. Unless you give someone the pattern, they will never know. I think you are doing fine. And yes, we love pictures here, so when it is finished, please post some. :D
I know exactly how you are feeling. I'm newer to quilting and still making mistakes. Also rural and on my own. Everyone here has great ideas. You will be so happy you found us. Your border goes on next. There is a lady in the quilt world named Jean Brown that tells us to put the binding on before you sandwich the quilt with batting and backing. It sounds wrong, but makes sense. The edges of the quilt top will not frey with the binding attached. Then, it is an easy finish when your done with the quilting process. I have not done that yet, but will on my next quilt. As for the oops on the binding size. If you are using 1/4 inch seems, it should have worked. If not, then don't let it get the best of you. The borders are for framing the quilt and no one is going to get a tape measure and double check your work. Bottom line is that each quilt made is a reflection of the person who made it. Not one of them are perfect so go easy on yourself. You said that all of your seems matched up, and I think that is a larger hurdle than the borders. Lay the quilt out on the bed and look at it from the doorway. Can you tell that the border is not exactly 2". It doesn't matter that is is not. Unless you give someone the pattern, they will never know. I think you are doing fine. And yes, we love pictures here, so when it is finished, please post some. :D
02-03-2009, 04:35 AM
#40
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Somerset, England
Posts: 10,686
I just wanted to say how glad I am I found this forum - you're all so helpful and I've already learnt loads!
With regards to binding, I always use the double method too; much easier to hem the folded edge on the back and I read somewhere that on ancient quilts it's always the binding thqt's the most worn out, so it makes good sense to make it strong! I'm sure all our works are the heirlooms of the future, so we should make them to last!
K x
With regards to binding, I always use the double method too; much easier to hem the folded edge on the back and I read somewhere that on ancient quilts it's always the binding thqt's the most worn out, so it makes good sense to make it strong! I'm sure all our works are the heirlooms of the future, so we should make them to last!
K x
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
lvaughan
Main
16
08-23-2011 10:43 AM
